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Commissioner Biographies

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Commissioner Melinda N. Coonrod, Chair

Commissioner Melinda N. Coonrod, Chairman began her criminal justice career in 1992 when she was appointed to serve as an Assistant State Attorney for the Second Judicial Circuit. In this role, Coonrod prosecuted perpetrators of crimes, advocated sentencing of those found guilty, and worked closely with victims and various law enforcement agencies. She later served as an Administrative Hearing Officer with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Licensing, where she presided over hearings involving the denial, suspension, and revocation of licensure. Additionally, Coonrod has represented children before the courts as a certified court-appointed Guardian Ad-Litem, provided training seminars to various law enforcement agencies, and instructed graduate and undergraduate courses at the Florida State University College of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Commissioner Coonrod received a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida State University College of Business and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Nova University. She is a member of the Tallahassee Bar Association, Association of Paroling Authorities International, and the Florida Council on Crime and Delinquency.Coonrod was initially appointed to the Commission by Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet on June 26, 2012, and was confirmed by the Florida Senate on April 29, 2013. Coonrod was reappointed by the Governor and Florida Cabinet on June 13, 2018, to serve a second six-year term, and was confirmed by the Florida Senate on May 1, 2019. In December of 2020, Commissioner Coonrod was reappointed as Commission Chair for a third consecutive two-year term. Chair Coonrod’s term expires June 30, 2022.


Commissioner Richard D. Davison, Secretary

Commissioner Richard D. Davison, Vice Chair began his criminal justice career in 1989 as an Assistant State Attorney in the Ninth Judicial Circuit where he prosecuted juvenile delinquency, misdemeanor, and traffic cases in jury and non-jury trials. In 1991, he became the staff attorney for the Florida House of Representatives Committee on Criminal Justice. He then served as an Assistant Statewide Prosecutor for Florida’s Office of Statewide Prosecution where he prosecuted white-collar crime, organized crime, and other criminal enterprises. Following the creation of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice in 1994, Commissioner Davison served as that Department’s Director of Legislative Affairs, Assistant General Counsel, and Deputy Secretary. Subsequently, Commissioner Davison was appointed Deputy Secretary of the Florida Department of Corrections. Prior to his appointment to the Commission, he served as Legal Counsel for the Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office. Commissioner Davison received a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida State University and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Florida in 1988. Commissioner Davison was originally appointed by Governor Scott and the Florida Cabinet on August 19, 2014, and was confirmed by the Florida Senate on April 29, 2015, to serve a six-year term, which was renewed in December 2020. Commissioner Davison was re-appointed to the Commission by Governor DeSantis and the members of the Florida Cabinet on December 15, 2020, to serve a six-year term that extends until June 30, 2026. Commissioner Davison is a member of the Florida Bar, and currently serves his community as a Counselor for the Florida American Legion Boys State and as a member of the Committee of 99 of Tallahassee/Leon County.


Commissioner David A. Wyant, Secretary

Commissioner David A. Wyant, Secretary began his law enforcement career in 1994 as a patrol officer with the Bartow Police Department. In 1996, he was promoted to serve as a Detective in the Special Investigations Unit where he investigated narcotic, vice, and other high profile crimes. For his efforts in this role, Commissioner Wyant was selected as the Bartow Chamber of Commerce Police Officer of the Year in 1997. After briefly serving in the community-focused policing squad bike patrol unit, Wyant returned to the role of Detective in 2002 where he was responsible for investigating economic, person, and property crimes as well as homicides. In 2006, Commissioner Wyant was promoted to serve as the Department’s Sergeant of Detectives and was appointed as the Deputy Chief in 2014, subsequently earning numerous commendations and the Polk County Police Chiefs Association Officer of the Year Award. Commissioner Wyant received a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from St. Leo University in Tampa and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA. He was appointed by Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet on May 10, 2016 and was confirmed by the Florida Senate on May 5, 2017 to serve a six-year term extending until June 30, 2022.